• Home
  • Principal's Welcome
  • Mission History
  • Achievements
  • Administration
  • Location/Directions
  • Download School Profile
  • Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr.
  • Link to School of the Arts Foundation
• Admissions
  • Magnet Office
  • Admissions Overview
  • Communications Audition
  • Dance Audition
  • Digital Media Audition
  • Music Band Audition
  • Music Piano Audition
  • Music Strings Audition
  • Music Vocal Audition
  • Theatre Audition
  • Visual Arts Audition
  • Link to Choice Programs
• Arts
  • Communication Arts
  • Dance
  • Music Band
  • Music Piano
  • Music Strings
  • Music Vocal
  • Theatre
  • Visual Arts
  • Performance Calendar
• Academics
  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Physical Fitness & Health
  • Foreign Language
  • Electives
• Guidance
• Student Life
  • School Calendar
  • Download Student Handbook
  • Athletics
  • Student Government
  • Clubs/Honor Societies
• Press Room
  • DSOA Blog
• Contact Us

Ellen Van Arsdale - Principal

Ellen Van Arsdale has provided outstanding arts-in-education leadership as the principal of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts for the last eight years. Graduating early from high school, she attended Duke University before transferring to University of Florida where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She later received a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.

In her twenty-nine years in education, Mrs. Van Arsdale has taught all levels of students from the profoundly handicapped to the exceptionally gifted in rural, suburban, and urban settings. Yearning to improve the big picture from the beginning of her career, she made the transition from teacher to administrator after five years in the classroom. She served as an assistant principal in Broward County schools for several years, then as principal of Port Charlotte High School on the west coast and William T. Dwyer Community High School in Palm Beach Gardens. In each of these schools, she developed arts programs from the ground up, leading them to become nationally recognized. In 2004, Mrs. Van Arsdale was named the Outstanding Arts Administrator by the Florida Association of Theatre Educators. Ellen was also the recipient of the 2008 Palm Beach County Cultural Council Muse Award for Arts/Cultural Leadership.

Mrs. Van Arsdale has served as the chairperson of the Palm Beach County High School Principals’ Association as well as numerous visiting committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) which recommends accreditation for high schools throughout the state of Florida. She served on the Florida High School Athletic Association Regional Appeals Committee, hearing and ruling on a wide variety of student hardship cases. Mrs. Van Arsdale served on the Norton Museum Education Committee, and created and led the Dreyfoos Save the Arts Campaign. This school/community initiative has resulted in the raising of nearly 1.4 million dollars from 2003 to present. On behalf of Dreyfoos, she petitioned the School Board of Palm Beach County for needed funds and raised awareness of the importance of the arts in schools and in our community.

Under her leadership, the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts has seen great development of its Advanced Placement program, from which the school has twice been recognized by the College Board as having the best AP Studio Art program in the world. Other recent recognitions include: being named a 2007 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education; being listed as the #25 high school in the country by U.S. News and World Report (11/07) and the #19 high school in the nation by Newsweek (05/07); the 2005 Exemplary School Award from the International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education; and, being named a Five Star School by the Florida Department of Education for the last seven consecutive years.

Mrs. Van Arsdale holds Florida Professional Certification in School Principal (All Levels), Mentally Handicapped K-12, and Specific Learning Disabilities K-12.

Leo Barrett - Assistant Principal

Leo Barrett is a career educator with over thirty years of experience as a teacher and administrator. Certified as a school principal at all levels, he has worked as an assistant principal at Dreyfoos for twelve years. He holds a Masters degree from Temple University.

Mr. Barrett holds Florida Professional Certification in School Principal (All Levels), Health Education 7-12, Physical Education K-8, Physical Education 6-12, and ESOL Endorsement.

George Miller - Assistant Principal

George Miller has 23 years of experience in education. Prior to his tenure as an assistant principal at Dreyfoos, he was a guidance counselor at Lake Worth High School and Palm Beach Lakes High School. Certified in educational leadership on all levels, Mr. Miller holds a Masters degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Guidance and Psychology.

Mr. Miller holds Florida Professional Certification in Educational Leadership (All Levels), Guidance and Counseling PreK-12, English 6-12, Speech 6-12, and ESOL Endorsement.

Trevor Roberts - Assistant Principal

Trevor Roberts attended Winthrop University and later earned his Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Florida International University. Mr. Roberts began his career as an elementary school teacher at SD Spady and Pine Grove Elementary schools, and moved to the District office in 2005 where he served as the School District of Palm Beach County's Science Specialist, K-12 SECME Director, and contributed as a Specialist for the No Child Left Behind Restructuring Team. He later earned his first school-based administrative appointment as Assistant Principal at Poinciana Elementary School, a magnet school with an emphasis in Math, Science, and Technology.

Mr. Roberts holds a Masters degree from Florida Atlantic University and Florida Professional Certification in Educational Leadership (All Levels), Elementary Education (grades 1-6), Mathematics (grades 5-9), and ESOL Endorsement.